Muzzle.



J. W. THOMPSON.

MUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1-913.

Patented Dec. 28, 1913.

JOHN WALTER THOMPSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MUZZLE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN VVALTER Tnoarrson, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Muzzles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in animal muzzles, and has relationmore particularly to those for use upon animals which pant and sweatthrough the mouth, such as dogs and the like.

In practice I have found that the muzzles now in use do not permit of afree and humane movement of the mouth of the animal, and at the sametime give absolute protection to the public from possible biting ortooth scratching. Also I have found that animals equipped with suchforms of muzzles cannot open their mouths sutliciently far to sweat andpant without rendering the relative safety of the muzzle inefli cient.

It is to overcome these present defects that I have designed the presentinvention and provided a muzzle in which a humane and eliicientprotector is combined, which is equally effectual as regards the animalinjuring the public, and from any possible foreign or poisonoussubstances the animal itself may come in contact with.

To this end the object of my invention is the provision of a muzzlewhich will permit an animal to breathe, pant and sweat, by reason of acomplete freedom of the lower jaw, and the extending of the tongue within the muzzle.

Another object is to provide a muzzle in which the tongue or any part ofthe mouth. of the animal, while at liberty to move freely within themuzzle, cannot be brought into contact with any extraneous substances orobjects.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in thefurther arrangements and combinations of parts hereafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved muzzle as it would appear when in position upon a dog or otheranimal. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the muzzle properillustrating the normal position of the animals mouth in dotted lineswithin the muzzle. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the muzzle in itsrocked position by reason of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 1, 1913.

Patented Dee. 23,1 913. Serial No. ?51,582.

the animal having opened his mouth, as shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 isa plan view of the cover or cage part of the muzzle as it would appearbefore being curved to its proper contours, and Fig. 5 is a detailsectional view illustrating a form of fastening means for securing theupper longitudinal nose strap to the transverse forward nose st up.

The muzzle as illustrated is designed primarily for use upon dogs, butit is not expressly limited to animals of that family alone.

In constructing my improved device I provide a lower yielding part 1which is made in the form of a cage or cover section suitably large topermit of free and easy movement of the animals mouth therein. As shownin Fig. 4: of the drawings this cover section is preferably stamped fromleather or other suitable tough yet soft material. Ribs 2 are formed, asa result of this construction, and connecting these ribs are thelongitudinal ribs 3 all of which when stamped are diagonally arranged sothat when curved to conform to the animals mouth they will extendtransversely and longitudinally of the cover, as shown. By thisformation also, a light, yet substantial rigid structure is formed. Thetransverse ribs 2 and the longitudinal connecting ribs 3 thus formed,are provided with openings 4 so as to properly ventilate the coversection for the animal.

Between the lateral. ribs 2 and the longitudinal ribs 3 openings areformed, which in no instance will be left large enough to allow ananimal to extend its tongue through, or otherwise manage to push itthrough. The ribs are preferably stamped diagonally and close enoughtogether, so tiat all tendencies on the part of the animal to bring hismouth or tongue into contact with any extraneous objects will befrustrated without any injurious results to the animal.

A metal guard 5 is secured to the central longitudinal rib 2 upon theoutside of the muzzle. Two extensions 66 are formed upon the upper partthereof and serve to add greater rigidity and strength to the coversection throughout and prevent the animal from rooting and rubbing themate rial, while at the same time making it impossible to obtain apurchase should he try to pick up or eat any substance on the outside ofthe muzzle. The guard can be bent into the proper shape for curving thecover section about the animals mouth with the correct amount offreedom. This has been found highly advantageous to owners of trainedand other valuable animals, where it is necessary to protect the animalitself from injury through poisonous or other contagious substances.

Upon the forward part of the muzzle I provide two more straps 7 and 8.These are secured at one side upon the upper longitudinal rib 2, whileupon the opposite side thereof, buckles 9 and 10 are secured to fastenthe same. The nose straps are provided at their ends with adjustingholes whereby the cover section can be pr perly placed upon the dog andthen securely fastened.

An upper longitudinal nose strap 11 is fastened to the forward nosestrap 7 by means of a split fastener and washer 12. Holes 13 areprovided centrally of the nose strap 7 whereby in assembling the device,the upper longitudinal nose strap 11 will be centrally adjusted fordifferent size animals. A. loop 1% is secured to the upper strap 11 andallows the nose strap 8 to freely slide through it. By this forwardmeans of securing the cover section it will be seen that any adjustmentscan be secured so as to properly put the nose of the animal into themuzzle. The upper nose strap 11 extends rearwardly and is adjust ablysecured to a buckle 15 carried by the throat or neck strap 16. Extendingalso rearwardly are the two side straps 17 which are in the presentinstance continuations of the upper longitudinal ribs 3. Suitablebuckles 18 are carried by the throat or neck strap to which the sidestraps 17 adjustably fasten. A strap 19 which is a continuation of thelower longitudinal rib 3 extends rearwardly and is adjustably fastenedto a bucie 20 carried by the neck strap 17. The usual buckle 21 forsecuring the neck strap in place is provided whereby the muzzle can bequickly removed, after properly adjusting it to the particular sizeanimal.

in putting the muzzle upon an animal, the forward nose straps areadjusted so that he upper edge of the cover section is brought above theanimals mouth and directly beneath his nostrils. This prevents theanimal from extending his tongue without the cover section, and at thesame time does not interfere in any way with his breathing. The uppernose strap, side straps and lower or chin strap are then adjusted andthe neck strap buckled in place behind the animals ears.

The operation of the animals mouth within the muzzle is effected by theanimal opening his mouth far enough to allow the lower jaw to partiallyforce the cover section outof its normal position, by reason of thelower jaw contacting with the inner side of the central longitudinal rib3. The cover section is partially rocked from the rear, the nose str ps7 and 8 preventing it from being lowered at its forward end. in thismanner any tendency of the animal to extend the tongue is arrested. Thenozzle is constructed sufiiciently large to prevent an aniiral fromopening his jaw wide enough to pass the rear of the cover section.Should the cover section need adjustment with regard to the space withinthe same and the freedom necessary for complete comfort to the animal,the metal guard may be bentto the proper shape to compensate for thiseasy action.

From the foregoing itwill be obvious that a practical and humane deviceis designed, in which all of the comforts of the animal are providedfor; and all possible injuries to the public are prevented.

Ehe reciprocal effectof the substantially closed cover section, wherebyinjury to the animal may result, as hereinbefore described, is alsoapparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A muzzle comprisinga continuous flexible cover section, shaped to conform and spaced fromthe aniiiials lower jaw and having small openings therein of such sizethat the animal is prevented from extending his tongue therethrough, theupper edge of said cover section terminating short of the anin alsnostrils and above the mouth, the bottom being beneath the lower jawwhen the mouth is open, devices attached to the cover section andextending over the nostrils, and devices for securing said cover sectionin position upon the animals head.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WALTER THOMPSON.

Witnesses Enxnsr G. Trroairson, Janus Frrz Gnznon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

